Michael John Nutt, born Dec. 5, 1932, at Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, England, left this life peacefully on March 28, 2008, at home in Langley.
An accomplished musician, Michael’s career path started when he was given a violin and bow as a young boy to keep both hands occupied and away from little girls’ pigtails. Fortunately, he took to music like a duck to water.
Michael received his formal musical education at the Guildhall School of Music under Max Rosthal in London. He started his professional career as a classical violinist with the Halle Orchestra in Manchester, England, under the direction of Sir John Barbirolli.
As a staff musician with the BBC Revue Orchestra, Michael formed the Smokey Mountain Boys, casting himself as fiddler Slim Weston and composing a new tune for each weekly live broadcast. He then enjoyed a 30-year career with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, playing under music directors Zubin Mehta, Carlos Maria Giulini, Andre Previn and Esa-Pekka Salonen.
In 1995 Michael “retired” to Whidbey Island, where he became busier than ever. He founded the Saratoga Chamber Players, with whom he organized and performed many memorable concerts, including a Messiah with Sing!Chronicity, several Figgy Pudding shows, Master and Commander, The Red Violin and Amadeus concerts with Elizabeth Pitcairn, and the First Annual Young Soloists concert.
He also enjoyed playing regularly with the Stilton Quartet, conducting annual Master Classes for the young artists of Island Strings, and serving as president of both the Island Arts Council and Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. One of Michael’s greatest pleasures was mentoring young musicians and giving them opportunities to perform with the Saratoga Chamber Players.
A modern Renaissance man, Michael’s creativity was not limited to music. His fine carpentry skills transformed scrap lumber into unique works of art, from turned bowls to inlaid furniture. He also created metal sculptures and invented fanciful gadgets.
Michael was a consummate gentleman. With his English charm, wit, and gregarious nature, he endeared himself to people the world over. Language was no barrier. His greatest joy was to please others. Most of all, Michael will be remembered for the sheer exuberance he brought to every endeavor. He personified joie de vivre.
Michael is survived by his wife Diane Kendy; his sister Valerie Avellano and her husband Luigi of Sussex, England; his niece Amanda Stapleton and her husband Peter of Sussex, England; his nephew Robert Avellano and his son Anthony of Glendale, Calif.; his nephew Mark Avellano and his partner Jane Storey of Surrey, England; Diane’s daughter Eloise Kendy and her husband Timothy Byron of Helena, Mont.; Diane’s son Jason Kendy and his partner Toshihiko Hashimoto of Tokyo, Japan; Diane’s cousins Steven Abrams and his wife Bonnie Stevenson of San Francisco, Calif.; Denny Abrams of Berkeley, Calif.; Elliott Abrams and his partner Giselle Perez of Oakland, Calif.; and Karima Cammell-Brown and her husband Duncan of Berkeley, Calif.
A community Celebration of Michael’s life was held on
March 25 at Gary Smith’s Mukilteo Coffee Roasters, and a concert in his honor was performed at South Whidbey High School on
March 26. Both events were produced by the amazing WICA staff on very short notice.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers or other gifts honoring Michael, donations in his name be sent to WICA Stage Two: Building for the Future fund, PO Box 52, Langley, WA 98260.
Private arrangements have been made with Visser Funeral Home.
